Short Summary

REPORTS OF A VISION OF THE VIRGIN MARY -- WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLOCKING TO A SUBURBAN CHURCH IN CAIRO -- WERE OFFICIALLY VERIFIED ON SATURDAY (MAY 4) BY THE EGYPTIAN COPTIC CHURCH --"WITH FULL CONFIDENCE AND GREAT JOY".

Description

REPORTS OF A VISION OF THE VIRGIN MARY -- WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLOCKING TO A SUBURBAN CHURCH IN CAIRO -- WERE OFFICIALLY VERIFIED ON SATURDAY (MAY 4) BY THE EGYPTIAN COPTIC CHURCH --"WITH FULL CONFIDENCE AND GREAT JOY".

A STATEMENT READ TO A PACKED PRESS CONFERENCE ON BEHALF OF COPTIC PATRIARCH KYRILLOS SAID IT HAD BEEN VERIFIED THAT THE VIRGIN MARY HAD APPEARED ON SEVERAL SUCCESSIVE NIGHTS FOR PERIODS AS LONG AS TWO AND A QUARTER HOURS ON OCCASIONS DATING BACK TO APRIL 2.

THE VISION, SEEN STANDING WITH ARMS OUTSTRETCHED ON A PARAPET OF THE CHURCH OF THE VIRGIN IN THE SUBURB OF ZAITOUN, HAD BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERAL MEDICALLY VERIFIED MIRACULOUS CURES, THE STATEMENT ADDED.

THE ROAD LEADING TO THE CHURCH HAS BEEN PACKED SOLIDLY WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM CAIRO AND FOREIGN TOURISTS FROM DUSK TO DAWN EVERY NIGHT SINCE THE FIRST VISION WAS REPORTED.

THE ROAD ON WHICH THE CHURCH STANDS IS REPUTED TO BE PART OF THE ROUTE TAKEN BY THE HOLY FAMILY DURING ITS WANDERING IN EGYPT.

YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) ARCHBISHOP KYRILLOS WELCOMED THE GOVERNOR OF CAIRO, MR SAID ZAYED, AND THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR TO THE CHURCH.

SEVERAL DOCTORS WERE REPORTED AS HAVING SAID THAT PEOPLE HAD RECOVERED FROM SEEMINGLY INCURABLE DISEASES AFTER SEEING THE VISION.